''Moon'' (stylized as ''MOON'') is the fortieth single released by Japanese singer-songwriter
Koda Kumi
, known professionally as , is a Japanese singer from Kyoto, known for her Urban contemporary, urban and Contemporary R&B, R&B songs.
After debuting with the single "Take Back" in December 2000, Koda gained fame in March 2003 when the songs fr ...
. Much like her past summer single "
Freaky" and "
4 Hot Wave
''4 Hot Wave'' (stylized as ''4 hot wave'') is the 32nd single by Japanese singer Koda Kumi, released through Rhythm Zone on July 26, 2006. The singles contains the quadruple A-side tracks "Ningyo-Hime", "I'll Be There", "Juicy", and "With Your Sm ...
", ''Moon'' carried four songs. It charted at No. 2 on
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics
Statistics (from German language, German: ', "description of a State (polity), state, a country") is the discipline that ...
and stayed on the charts for nineteen weeks. It was released in CD and CD+DVD editions, with the limited editions of both versions carrying an alternate rendition of "Moon Crying".
Information
''Moon'' is Japanese singer-songwriter Kumi Koda's fortieth single. It charted at No. 2 on the weekly
Oricon Singles Chart
The Oricon Singles Chart is the Japanese music industry-standard Single (music), singles popularity chart issued daily, weekly, monthly and yearly by Oricon. Chart rankings are based on physical singles' sales. Until 2017, Oricon did not track down ...
s and remained on the charts for nineteen weeks.
The single became Kumi's first to be released after the controversy in late January of that same year. On January 30, Kumi made an inflammatory statement on ''
All Night Nippon
is a Japanese radio program broadcast by Nippon Broadcasting System and other radio stations.
DJs
The day of the week below are for the evening preceding in Japan, i.e. day in UTC.
* Mondays – Thursdays, 13:00 UTC – 15:00 UTC wi ...
'' when asked about whether or not she wanted her then-manager to have children, whereas her manager had just gotten married. She had responded, "When women turn 35, their
amniotic fluid
The amniotic fluid is the protective liquid contained by the amniotic sac of a gravid amniote. This fluid serves as a cushion for the growing fetus, but also serves to facilitate the exchange of nutrients, water, and biochemical products betwee ...
goes rotten, so I hope they have a child before then." Her website had been shut down with a letter from Kumi posted on the page, apologizing for her remark. Due to the controversy, it was speculated that any following singles would not chart well, if she chose to continue releasing music.
Kumi had gone to say how the song's lyrics and overall tone were written as an apology and to reflect how much she had regretted the statement.
The single continued on with the theme of releasing a summer single with four songs, following "4 Hot Wave" (2006) and "Freaky" (2007). However, although the single carried four different musical tracks, it was only a double
A-side
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of vinyl records and cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a single usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or ...
with music videos only being released for "Moon Crying" and "That Ain't Cool".
For "Moon Crying", Kumi worked closely with musical composer
h-wonder
H-Wonder is a Japanese music arranger and composer. He debuted in 1995. In June 1998, he stopped being a solo artist and changed his name to H-Wonder and became a composer. One of his notable collaborations is with Maaya Sakamoto and BoA.
Dis ...
. The two had worked together several times in the past, beginning with her debut single ''
Take Back'' in 2000.
"That Ain't Cool" featured American singer-songwriter
Fergie from the
hip hop
Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...
/pop group
Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American musical group formed in Los Angeles in 1995, composed of rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo (rapper), Taboo. Fergie (singer), Fergie was a member during the height of their popularity in the 2000s, and ...
. Although both Kumi and Fergie were listed as the writers for the song, the song was mainly written by Fergie, who presented the song as a gift to Kumi upon meeting the artist.
''Moon'' is certified Gold by RIAJ for shipment of 100,000 copies. It is her last single to pass the 100,000 mark in Oricon sales to date. ''Moon Crying'' was certified triple platinum for 750,000 downloads in January 2014.
Promotional Advertisements
"Moon Crying" was used as the theme song for the
TV Asahi
JOEX-DTV (channel 5), branded as , and better known as , is a Japanese television station serving the Kanto region as the flagship station of the All-Nippon News Network. It is owned-and-operated by the a subsidiary of , itself controlled by ...
drama ''Puzzle''
(パズル / PAZURU).
"Lady Go!" was used as the promotional song for ''KOSEs "Glamorous Hunter" under the ''Visée'' line.
Packaging
''Moon'' was released in both CD and CD+DVD, with limited editions of both.
*CD: contains eight musical tracks.
*CD
imited Edition contains nine musical tracks.
*CD+DVD: contains eight musical tracks, two music videos and two making videos.
*CD+DVD
imited Edition contains nine musical tracks, two music videos, two making videos and the "live version" of ''Moon Crying.''
Limited editions contained an alternate piano arrangements of "Moon Crying" on the CD and a live version of "Moon Crying," which was performed on May 15, 2008, during her
''Kingdom'' tour performance at
Yoyogi National Gymnasium
Yoyogi National Gymnasium, officially is an indoor arena located at Yoyogi Park in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, which is famous for its Suspended structure, suspension roof design.
The arena holds 13,291 people (9,079 stand seats, 4,124 arena sea ...
.
Post Controversy and KODA REKI
In ''KODA REKI,'' Kumi's published biography, she said how she still cries when she thinks about the comment on All Night Nippon and hurting "many Japanese women." She goes on to say how it was that moment in her career when she realized how immature and unprofessional she was, not realizing how many people listened to her words due to her fame. She admitted how she had cancelled several rehearsals for ''Kingdom's'' corresponding tour, ''
Live Tour 2008 ~Kingdom~,'' due to the severe anxiety she would get when she believed that she would walk out onto the stage to perform, only to have an empty arena.
Music videos
"Moon Crying" carried a very somber tone about missing a deceased loved one and not knowing how to move on. In the video, Kumi's departed lover comes to her as a spirit, trying to tell her it's okay to move on. She becomes angry, but ultimately accepts his death.
"That Ain't Cool feat. Fergie" was directed by
music video director
A music video director is the head, overseer or facilitator of music video production. The director conceives of videos' artistic and dramatic aspects while instructing the musical act, technical crew, actors, models, and dancers. They may or ...
and choreographer
Fatima Robinson
Fatima Robinson (born August 29, 1971) is an American dancer, music video director and choreographer.
Career
Robinson has choreographed dance routines (for live performances and music videos) for several musical and pop artists, notably for Mi ...
and was shot in
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
, Georgia. It premiered on
MTV Japan
MTV Japan (Music Television Japan) is the Japanese version of the cable television network based in Tokyo, Japan. It is a subsidiary of Paramount Global, Paramount Global Japan K.K., and was launched on November 15, 1993. It can be viewed on cable ...
on May 29, 2008, and carried a theme of two women (played by Kumi and Fergie) finding out that their lovers had been cheating on them.
An "album version" was placed on Kumi's seventh studio album, ''
Trick
Trick(s) may refer to:
People
* Trick McSorley (1852–1936), American professional baseball player
* Armon Trick (born 1978), retired German international rugby union player
* David Trick (born 1955), former Ontario civil servant and univers ...
,'' and featured a complete story line with Kumi and Fergie seeking retribution on the man that had been dating both of them without either woman realizing.
Track listing
Charts
Sales and Certifications
Alternate Versions
Moon Crying
#Moon Crying: Found on the single (2008) and corresponding album
TRICK
Trick(s) may refer to:
People
* Trick McSorley (1852–1936), American professional baseball player
* Armon Trick (born 1978), retired German international rugby union player
* David Trick (born 1955), former Ontario civil servant and univers ...
(2009)
#Moon Crying
iano Version'': Found on the single (2008)
#Moon Crying
nstrumental'': Found on the single (2008)
#Moon Crying
TS SH Club Mix'': Found on
Koda Kumi Driving Hit's 3 (2011)
Lady Go!
#Lady Go!: Found on the single (2008)
#Lady Go!
nstrumental'': Found on the single (2008)
#Lady Go!
J KOMORI Remix'': Found on
Koda Kumi Driving Hit's 6 (2014)
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moon
Koda Kumi EPs
2008 EPs
Rhythm Zone albums